Joy to the World

“She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins. All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:"Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel", which means, God with us.” (Matthew 1:21-23)

“These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.”
(John 15:11)

In a few days, you will gather around your family tree. Many of you will read the precious story of Christmas and spend several moments reflecting on the good gifts of God, prior to opening the first present. Some of you will simply pray together in a spirit of joy and then open gifts. Some of you will ravage the boxes under the tree until your craving for all the stuff is satisfied. Either way, the wrapping paper will be destroyed in a “second coming” moment. You know what I mean: “in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, for presents will be ripped open and we shall be - changed?”

This is my last Monday Morning Manna for 2009. When you read this I will be on vacation. I will, however, experience the joy of performing the wedding ceremony for Gary Brittain and Donna Shugarts on the 22^nd, and then our Christmas Eve services (4:00 PM at the south campus and 5:30 PM at the north campus). I look forward to both these events, not as pastoral “business”, but as a Christian overwhelmed with joy for my dear friends the soon-to-be “Brittain’s”, and the great joy of our incredible Christmas Eve worship as a church family. We will be leaving for Kentucky on Christmas Day to spend the holidays with my family.

In my absence, you will be blessed with the incredible preaching of Dr. Rick Lance, the executive director/state missionary of our Alabama Baptist Convention. He will be preaching in all three of our services on the 27^th. My only regret is that I will not get to hear him. The last time Dr. Lance was with us was when we dedicated our south campus in May of 08. I know you will welcome him with open hands and loving hearts.

As I reflect on this Christmas and the joy of knowing that Christ is Immanuel, “God with us.” Because God is with us we have:

· An inheritance that can never be lost. (I Peter 1:3-5)

· A deliverance that can never be outdone. (2 Cor. l:10)

· A grace that can never be limited. (2 Cor. 12:9)

· A hope that can never be disappointed. (Heb. 6:18-19)

· A peace that can never be disturbed. (John 14:27)

· A righteousness that can never be tarnished. (2 Cor. 5:21)

· A salvation that can never be canceled. (Heb. 5:9)

· And a joy that need never be diminished. (John 15:11)

These are but a few of the blessings that are ours, because God was made like us so that we could be made like Him. Rejoice today! Here are the words from Isaac Watts, written in 1719, that bless our hearts today:

Joy To The World

Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.

Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.

No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders, of His love.

Merry Christmas,

Dr. Derek